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About Atom Cult Camp

Introduction

Contents

Atom
Cult Camp builds on this year's theme: Cargo Cult. The Nuclear Power
Cargo Cult. Our lives, our modern existence are solely dependent on the
energy resources. Hence our perpetual quest for the new efficient forms
of energy. There are a lot of energy-related doomsday scenarios out
there: peak oil, global warming from fossil fuels, nuclear catastrophes,
etc. Some are supported by science, others are rooted in the opposite:
our lack of knowledge. Awe and fear are the basis of the original Cargo
Cults, and we still see it in the Nuclear Age.

Interactivity

Enter
the Atom Cult - the most radiant camp at BM. The camp's centerpiece -
the Cooling Tower - is an ordinary part of any nuclear power plant. Only
this time, it's made out of bamboo, symbolizing the humankind's
primitive yet cultish attitude towards this form of energy. With its
24' height and crowned by a combination observation deck/trampoline
(safety net included), the tower will surely become a local landmark.
People can climb up to the deck with the help of several jute rope
tunnels hanging on the outside of the tower. More fun awaits inside the
tower: another trampoline on the ground level, where visitors can
exercise or just relax in the tower's shade and a slackline just a few
feet above. Tours of the tower will be open from noon to midnight daily.

Next
to the tower is a "reactor" in the shape of a classic dome. A chill-out
place, unlike the innards of a real nuclear reactor, it will also serve
as a scene for our DJ/live music entertainment and include sunscreen and fluorescent make-up giveaway stand. Off to the side,
evaporation pool doubles as the plant's cooling pond, decorated with UV
lights and tinted with fluorescent paint. Add fake barb wire all around
the camp, Geiger counter background soundtrack, cheerful hosts in gas
masks, and you have a geek paradise in the desert.

And
no paradise is complete without the ice cream! When things get hot
(more precisely 1-3pm playa time daily) we are giving away the FISSION
ICE CREAM. The show includes liquid nitrogen dewar/dry ice meat grinder
and lots of fizz.

For
a midnight snack and to complement night time tower vistas, we also
serve Glow in the Dark Jello (upgraded to shots for the adults).

At
first sight, burners are the perfect crowd for a cargo cult: semi-naked
folks living in primitive conditions. First sight is deceiving of
course and the level of spiritual energy generated at Burning Man is not
found anywhere else on the planet. We only hope that our modest camp
with its cargo nuclear power can give a boost to that real and precious
resource.

Acculturation

As the Burning Man event and culture grows, we are all challenged by
demonstrating our values to the newest members of our community. How does our camp meet this challenge?

Atom
Cult Camp is firmly built on Ten Principles of Burning Man and will wow
the newcomers with our Cargo Nuclear Power Plant concept and
fluorescent art.

We will nourish them with our day and night food gifts: super cool ice cream and glow in the dark jello.

And
in the spirit of radical inclusion everyone will be taken on a journey
of self discovery, starting from a completely safe ground level
trampoline contained within a bamboo cage/tower, through a rope tunnel
on the outside of the structure, to fascinating views of the Playa from
our unique combination trampoline/observation deck at 20' above the
ground. As in life, the higher you jump, the bigger are the views and in
this case safety net is included.

Our
Reactor Lounge will provide shade and relaxing music for those
overwhelmed by the immediacy of this experience, and even our
evaporation pond with its tracer dye UV highlights will educate
uninitiated on Burning Man Leave No Trace ethos.

We
are confident that the newest members of our community will come away
with a deeper understanding of the ideal of personal participation,
through the experience of first seeing the tower from a distance,
eventually making their way through our “obstacle course”, and in the
end being rewarded with waiting refreshments.

And “everyone likes ice cream no matter who they are”.

Scale

20 camp mates cover 10 half-day hosting shifts with opportunities to lead ice cream and jello tasting, live music and DJ performances, and fluorescent make-up sessions (and search and rescue missions around the tower as needed).

6 early arrival passes are needed for 3 of our subteams: two each from SF (tower), LA (dome), and San Diego (costumes/kitchen).